Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/90

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76
The Seven Sleepers

prayed them to let him go, and keep both money and bread, but they held him, and said to him: 'Of whence art thou? For thou hast found treasure of old emperors, show it to us, and we shall be fellows with thee and keep it secret.' And Malchus was so afeard that he wist not what to say to them for dread. And when they saw that he spake not they put a cord about his neck, and drew him through the city unto the middle thereof. And tidings were had all about in the city that a young man had found ancient treasure, in such wise that all they of the city assembled about him, and he confessed there that he had found no treasure. And he beheld them all, but he could know no man there of his kinred ne lineage, which he had verily supposed that they had lived, but found none, whereof he stood as he had been from himself, in the middle of the city. And when S. Martin the bishop, and Antipater the consul, which were new come into this city, heard of this thing they sent for him, that they should bring him wisely to them, and his money with him. And when he was brought to the church he weened well he should have been led to the Emperor Decius. And then the bishop and the consul marvelled of the money, and they demanded him where he had found this treasure unknown. And he answered that he had nothing founden, but it was come to him of his kinred and patrimony, and they demanded of him of what city he was. 'I wot well that I am of this city, if this be the city of Ephesus.' And the judge said to him: 'Let thy kinred come and witness for thee.' And he named them, but none